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Favicons (short for FAVorite ICON) are the miniature logos that you see
displayed beside the website address or URL in the address bar in Internet
Explorer or location field in Netscape Navigator. Favicons are also called
shortcut icons and the most familiar ones are most probably the default browsers’ favicons.
Favicons are also seen in the:
A favicon serves as a visual reference that strengthens your identity and
individuality. Even on a tight budget, you can take advantage of its numerous
benefits:
A favicon file is recognised by its extension .ico.
One file can contain several
icon pictures in different sizes. The most used sizes are 16x16 pixels and
32x32pixels.
When required, the browser fetches from within the .ico file the
picture that will fit the application. For example, a 16x16 picture is used for
the address bar, links bar, favorites and history menus, whereas a 32x32
picture is used for shortcuts on the desktop and icons in Windows Explorer.
When a person downloads a webpage, the browser searches for the favicon.ico file
in the site’s root directory. For example, type
http://www.marketingcues.com/favicon.ico and your browser will display my
favicon. If there is no favicon.ico file, the browser’s default icon will be displayed in front of the URL.
If you intend to place your favicon in a place other than the root directory
such as in your images folder, you must insert the following metatag in the
<head> section of each webpage to help the browser find the file:
How to create your favicon
Digitope™ has a tool called Pixelshop that enables you to create a favicon from
scratch or from an existing picture. It’s so easy! My favicon has been done with
Pixelshop. The free trial period is generous and it gives you enough time to
create your first favicon and appreciate this very useful tool. Give it a try at
http://www.digitope.com/pixelshop/index.htm.
Favicon limitations What an economical way to stand out from anonymity! © Henriette Martel
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